Gravity carrier system.



W. H. BICKFORD.

GRAVITY GRRIER SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1911. .Y

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

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WILLIAM H. BICKFOB/D, OF WASHINGTON, IOWA.

GRAVITY CARRIER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2,1912.

Application led June 27, 1911. Serial No. 635,678.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I-I. BICK- rom), citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Washington, in the county of Washington and State ofIowa, have invented certain new `and useful Improvements in GravityCarrier Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a gravity carrier system, and while it isparticularly designed for use in delivering mail on rural routes fromthe house to the road and from the road to the house, it may be adaptedto other uses without departing from the spirit of the invention.

f The invention contemplates the use of a track wire supported at itsends by two members which are vertically movable up anddown uponsupport-s and are supported in elevated position by aclutch device whichis designed to be rendered inoperative when engaged by a member upon thecarrier, so

that when the carrier arrives at one or the other of the supports, thatend of the track wire will be automatically lowered, and will remain inthis positionuntil manually elevated, either by the occupant o-f thehouse to which the mail is to be delivered or by the mail carrier.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be hadl to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing in which f Figure 1 is aVview in side elevation of the apparatus embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a similar viewin detail of the carrier of theapparatus and one of the supports for the track wire.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingby the same reference characters'.

In the drawing, there is shown a post 1k which is to be mounted at, theroad side and a post 2 which is to be mounted at any convenient pointnear the house to which the mail is to be delivered. Brackets 3 and 4tare secured to and project laterally from the post 1, the bracketlBbeing located preferably near the upper end of the post and the bracket4, a suitable-distance-above the lower end of the post. A wire 5 issecured lower end to an eye-bolt 6 inserted through the bracket 4 andhaving thereon an adjust-Y ing nut 7 by means of which the tension ofthe wire 5 maybe adjusted. A wire 8 corresponding to the wire 5 issecured at its `bracket 11 corresponding to the bracket 4 and alsocarried by the post 2. A nut 12 is threaded upon the eye-bolt 10 and maybe turned to adjust the tension of the wire 8;

By. referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing it `will be observed that theVwires 5 and 8 lare inclined upwardly away from each other and that thewire 8 is of greater length than the wire 5. The object in view in havatits upper end to the bracket 3 and atits ing the wires of differentlengths will be presently explained.

The track wire is indicated by the numeral 13 and is supported at itsends by members which are movable upV and down upon the wires 5 and 8.

Each of the members above mentioned includes in its structure a yoke14:, in which is journaled a small wheel 15 designed and proportioned totravel upon the respective wires 5 or 8. The track wire 18 is connectedat its ends as at 16 to the ends of the yokes opposite the ends in whichthe wheels 15 are journaled. It is of course contemplated that the trackwire shall be stretched taut between the members 14 so that the wheels15 will be held firmly against the respective wires 5 or 8.. Each of themembers further includes a clutch designed to coperate with Each of theclutch devices above referred to includes an arm 17 and an arm 18, thesevarms being pivoted as at 19 between the Ithe respective wire to holdthe member at p dierent elevations thereon.

spaced portions of the yoke 14. The arnik 17 is considerably shorterthan the arm 18 and the free end of the arm 17 andthe free lower end ofthe arm 18 lie respectively above and below the yoke 14 and are 'beveledand serrated as at 20 to clutch with the wire 5 or 8, as the case maybe. The upper portion of the arm 18 extends above the yoke 14.-k

at an angle to the arm 17 and the bail 21 is connected at its ends tothe arm 17 near its free end and the arm 18 near its upper end. Apull-rope 22 is connected to the bail 21 and is led over pulleys 23 upon`the respective post 1 or 2. A spring 24 1s positioned between the arm17 and the upper port-ion of the arm 18, as illustrated clearly in Fig.2 of the drawing, and serves to spread the upper ends of the two armsand cause their serrated ends 2O to bear against the wire 5 or 8 aboveand below the point of engagement of the wheel 15 therewith. At thispoint it will be readily understood thatwhen it is desired to shifteither one of the track wire supporting members to elevated posit-ionupon its respective wires 5 or 8, the corresponding pull-rope 22 is tobe pulled, whereupon the flexing of the bail 21 will result in the upperends of the arms 17 and 18 being swung toward each other and in theserrated ends 2O of the arms being moved out of clutch engagement withthe wires 5 or 8. As soon as the pull rope is released, however, thespring 24: willl return the arms to clutch engagement with the wire andthe member will be supported at the point to which it has been elevated.Each arm 18 is formed or provided, upon that edge which is presentedtoward the track wire 13, with a detent lug 25. y

The carrier of the apparatus is indicated by the numeral 26 and is inthe form of a box of any suitable shape and size having a door 27 whichmay be opened for t-he introduction and removal of mail matter. Brackets28 are secured upon the top of the carrier and in these brackets arecarried wheels 29 which travel upon the track wire 13. Each` bracket hasan extension 30 which is shouldered as at 31 and when the carrierreaches one or the other of the posts 1 or 2, one of the bracketextensions 30 will strike against the arm 18 of the corresponding clutchdevice and the detent lug 25 will engage with the shoulder 31. Thisengagement of the bracket extension with the arm of the clutch willresult in the clutch being rendered inoperative to support the yoke 14and wheel 15 and these partswill therefore be released to drop fromtheir elevated posit-ion as will also the corresponding end ot the trackwire and the carrier 26.

. The operation of the device is as fol lows z-It will first be assumedthat both of the track wire supporting members are in lowered positionupon their respective wires 5 and 8, and that the carrier 26 is at theroad end of the track wire. The postman upon his arrival at the post 1,will place in the carrier 26 the mail matter to be delivered to thehouse at which the post 2 is located. I-Ie will then pull upon thepullerope 22 on the post 1, thereby elevating the supporting member forthis end of the track wire until it assumes about the position shown inFig. 1 of the drawing. The track wire will then be inclined at about theangle shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the carrier 26 will travel bygravity from the post 1 to the post 2. After the mail matter has beenremoved from the carrier, the occupant of the house will place thereinany mail which is to be delivered to the postman for mailing and willthen pull upon the pull-rope 22 at the post 2 until the supportingmember for this end of the track wire has been elevated to abouttheposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The track wire will then beinclined at about the angle shown in dotted lines in the said ligure andthe carrier 26 will travel by gravity from the post 2 to the post 1. Assoon as the box arrives at the post 1, the bracket extension 30 at theadjacent end of the carrier 26 will engage with and render inoperativethe clutch device, thereby allowing the supporting member for this endof the track wire to drop upon the wire 5. The occupant of the house maythen give several quick pulls upon the pullrope 22 at his end of theapparatus which will allow the track wire supporting member at the post2 to descend upon the wire 8. By oppositely inclining the wires 5 and 8,the track wire is kept tautwhile the supporting members therefor arebeing raised or lowered upon their respective wires 5 and 8.

It is preferable'that a cushioning spring 32 be arranged upon each ofthe wires 5 and 8, at the lower ends thereof to cushion the descent ofthe box.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In agravity carrier system, supports, members movable up and down upon thesupports, means upon each member arranged to clutch with the respectivesupport whereby to support the member at diiierent elevations thereon, arail extending between the said members and supported thereby, a carriersupported for travel along the rail, and means actuated by the carrierfor releasing said clutch means.

2. In a gravity carrier system, supports, members movable up and downupon the supports, means upon each member arranged to clutch with therespective supports whereby to support the member at dierent elevationsthereon, a rail extending between said members, a carrier supported fortravel along the rail, and means upon the carrier arranged to engagewith the clutch means to disengage the said clutch means from thesupport.

3. In a gravity carrier system, supports, a member movable up and downupon each support, means upon each member arranged to clutch with therespective supportwhereby to support the member at different elevationsthereon, a rail extending between said members, al carrier supported fortravel along the rail, and means to disengage the clutch means from ythesupport and thereby allow the respective member to drop upon itsrespective support.

4. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support, means upon the member arranged to clutch with therespective support whereby to support the member in elevated positionthereon, a rail supported at one end by the member, a carrier supportedfor travel along the rail, and means upon the carrier arranged to engagewith the clutch means to disengage the same from the support and therebyallow the said member to drop from its elevated position.

5. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support, means for holding the member in elevated position uponthe support, a rail supported at one end by the member, a carriermounted for travel along the rail, and means upon the carrier engageablewith the means for. supporting the member in elevated position, wherebyto render the last mentioned means inoperative and thereby allow thesaid member to drop from its elevated position.

6. Ina gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support, a clutch upon the said member arranged to coperatewith the support to hold the member in elevated position thereon, meansconnected with the clutch for elevating the said member, a railsupported at one end by the member, a carrier mounted for travel alongthe rail, and means upon the carrier engageable with the clutch todisengage the same from the support and allow the member to drop fromits elevated position.

7. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support, a clutch carried by the member and coperating with thesupport to hold the member in elevated position upon the support, a pullrope connected with the clutch for moving the said member upwardly uponthe support, a track supported at one end by the saidl member, a carriermounted 'for travel along the track, and-means upon the carrierengageable with the clutch whereby to disengagethe same from the supportand thereby allow the member to drop from its elevated position.

8. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member mounted for up anddown movement upon the support, a clutch carried by the member andcomprising arms pivoted for independent movement, a spring arrangedbetween the arms and normally hold-v ing the same in clutch engagementwith the support, a bail connecting the arms, a p-ullrope connected withthe bail whereby the said member may be moved upwardly upon the supportto elevated position, the pull upon the pull-rope serving to flex thebail and move the arms out of clutch engagement with the support, atrack supported at one end by the said member, and a carrier mounted fortravel along the track.

9. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a membermounted forup anddown movement uponthe support, a clutch carried by the member andcomprising arms pivoted for independent movement, a spring arrangedbetween the arms and normally holding the same in clutch engagement withthe support, a bail connecting the arms, a pullrope connected with theubail whereby the said member may be moved upwardly upon the support toelevated position, the pull upon the pull-rope servin to flex the bailand move the arms out of c utch engagement with the support, a tracksupported at one end by the said member, a carrier mounted for travelalong the track, and means upon the carrier engageable with one arm ofthe clutch to move the arms out of clutch engagement with the supportand thereby allow the 'said member to drop from elevated position. l

10. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support and comprising a yoke, a wheel liournaled in the yokeand traveling upon the support, a clutch supported by the yoke normallyengaging with the support at point-s above and below the point ofengagement of the wheel therewith, a track supported at one end by theyoke, a carrier mounted for travel along the track, and means upon thecarrier engageable with the clutch whereby to disengage the same fromthe support and allow the said member to drop from elevated position.

11. In a gravity carrier system, a support, a member movable up and downupon the support, a track wire supported at one end by the member, aclutch device comprising arms pivoted to the member and arranged toengage at their free ends with the support whereby to lsup-port themember in elevated position thereon, one of the said arms being providedwith a detent lug, a carrier mounted for travel along the track wire,and a shouldered member upon the carrier arranged to engage with thedetent lug whereby to hold the arms of the clutch device in position torender them inoperative to support the said track wire supportingmember.

12. In a gravity carrier system, spaced supports, a wire stretched uponeach support, the wire upon one of the supports beother support andhaving its upper end eX- In testimony whereof I affix my signaturetending above the upper end of the said in presence of two Witnesses.

other Wire a member movable up and down upon each7 0f said Wires7 atrack Wire sup- WILLIAM H" BIGKFORD' [Ih-Sil ported at its ends by thesaid members, and Witnesses: a carrier mounted for travel along thetrack F. P. RANDALL, Wire. E. A. BICKFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

